The Workshop is aimed at local authority HB officers making decisions about supported accommodation cases: Whether HB can be paid and, if so, how much?
Tuesday, 20th May, 2025.
Full-Day Workshop: (9:40 - 4:30)
Workshop Fee: £270 (No VAT)
Book 3 places and receive a 4th place FREE.
Also available for In-House Bookings - Online or at your own training venue.
(We provide a separate Workshop and Programme for RSL’s & Accommodation PROVIDERS.)
HOUSING BENEFIT & SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION
The Complete 2025/26 Guide For Local Authority Staff
This Workshop is suitable for staff with a good general knowledge of HB, but new to working with supported housing (SH) cases; or as a refresher/update for staff who already have experience of SH. The workshop begins with the basic principles:
The definition of “specified accommodation” that attracts HB rather than a UC housing element.
· How the HB eligible rent is calculated for each category of “specified accommodation”:
o Cases where the full rent less ineligible services can be met;
o Cases where the bedroom tax applies;
o Cases where the LHA applies;
o Cases where the Local Reference Rent applies;
o The different rules for registered housing associations and others;
o The significance of exempt accommodation, as distinct from the other types of specified accommodation.
· When a tenancy needs to be referred to the Rent Officer.
· The amount of government subsidy payable in each case.
· Our handy flowcharts will guide delegates to the correct decisions on all of the above issues.
More experienced staff will have a chance to refresh their knowledge and pick up new insights into issues such as:
· Identifying organisations that operate on a non-profit basis: using resources like Companies House, the FCA Mutuals Register and the register of social housing providers; understanding different forms of incorporation (companies limited by shares or by guarantee, CICs, societies, charities etc);
· The significance of connections between property owners, care providers, developers/investors and non-profit HB landlords.
The day goes on to examine how the Council establishes whether the claimant is receiving care, support or supervision to a sufficient extent to satisfy the definitions of “exempt” and “specified” accommodation. Different issues affect projects where the landlord works alongside a commissioned care provider (as in “supported living”, aka “managed” accommodation, for people with learning disabilities) and those where the only support is whatever the landlord provides (as in single homeless hostels). We look at the kind of support might be provided by landlords in both types of scheme. Does the landlord have the capacity to provide support? What kind of support do the tenants need, if any? How are their needs assessed? How is the support paid for? Are there adequate records of support being provided?
We then consider the kind of evidence that will be needed if the Council wishes to restrict eligible rent in an exempt accommodation case, including the regulations that cover unreasonably high rents and rent increases; and the eligibility and reasonableness of service charges, including .
Reforms ahead: The government has launched a consultation on two related subjects: the proposed licensing regime in England under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023; and whether the HB Regulations could define what is meant by “care, support or supervision”. The day will include a summary of the consultation
Finally, the pack contains two specialist chapters on leased accommodation and intensive housing management (IHM). We don’t have time to go though these on the day, but the chapters include an explanation of the way that developers acquire sites, lease them to housing associations and sell them on to investors, and how the lease rents for these schemes are calculated. As for IHM, a body of case law is slowly developing which is adding clarity to the question whether IHM is eligible to be funded by HB and whether it counts as “support” for the purpose of satisfying the definition of exempt accommodation … and whether both of those things can be true at the same time!
Presented by the “HB Anorak” Peter Barker who has many years’ experience dealing with complex supported accommodation case work and representing both local authorities and providers in appeal cases.
Topics Covered:
Definitions
· Specified accommodation
· Exempt accommodation
Effect Of Occupying Specified Or Exempt Accommodation
· Eligible rent
o Restricted or full amount?
o LHA or LRR?
o Registered HA or other?
· Benefit cap
· Subsidy rates
Landlord Types:
· Housing associations: Registered / unregistered
· Registered charities
· Other non-profit bodies
· Understanding corporate status and using public registers
Care, Support And Supervision
· In supported living
· In single homeless schemes
· Funding
· Evidence
Core Rent And Service Charges
· Restricting unreasonably high rents under Reg 13
· Restricting unreasonably high service charges
· Eligible and ineligible service charges: selected FAQs including
o Communal areas
o Concierge charges
o Service charges for things that are not services (e.g. sinking fund)
Reforms On The Horizon
· Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act and the new licensing regime
· Defining “care, support or supervision” in the HB Regulations
For Specialists [not covered in depth on the day but included in the pack]
· Leased accommodation
· Intensive housing management: Support v Eligible Service Charges
Contact us for In-House & Online booking information.
We are always pleased to arrange most of our Workshops, such as this one, for staff from an individual organisation to be held at their own training venue or by Zoom/TEAMS. Please email us with your requirements for details.